South Africans urged to maintain HIV focus on Mandela Day

The 2011 edition of Mandela Day is being commemorated under the theme "Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day", a call for people all over the world to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place.

"We at New Start believe that this message speaks directly to all our efforts to reduce the spread of HIV," said Miriam Mhazo, health services director at Society for Family Health (SFH), which runs the New Start programme.

Know your status, act responsibly

"By knowing our HIV status, acting responsibly and encouraging the people in our sphere of influence to reduce risky sexual behaviour, each of us can play our part constantly in preventing the spread of HIV and contribute to making our world a healthier place," Ms Mhazo said.

As part of the Mandela Day campaign this year, New Start will be providing HIV counselling and testing services in Limpopo province, in support of campaign activities organised by the National Department of Health (NDOH).

"We're very proud to partner with the government in the Mandela Day initiative. This partnership between New Start and the government really emphasises the unity of purpose that is needed to beat HIV, and unity is something that Nelson Mandela stood for," SFH HCT manager Ncamsile Nhlabathi said.

Just 67 minutes

Nelson Mandela International Day was officially adopted by the United Nations in 2009, and is recognised globally as an annual day of humanitarian action in celebration of Mandela's life and legacy.

The Mandela Day campaign seeks to encourage people all over the world to spend 67 minutes of their time either supporting a chosen charity or serving their local community through any activities . This is inspired by the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent fighting the apartheid system.

For more information on New Start www.newstart.co.za or SMS HIV and your postcode to 31771 to find your nearest New Start HIV Counselling and Testing Centre.